Abstract: Electrically enhanced filter, includes a filter element, a pair of electrodes sandwiching the filter element, a DC, AC, pulse, or RF power supply coupled to the electrode to create an electrostatic field across the filter element and to produce attracting forces between micro-organisms contained in the air and the filter element, and a power supply creating a sterilizing electrical field, which may be either an RF, DC, pulse, or AC power supply coupled to the electrodes and creating discharging or non-discharging voltages on the filter element to destruct the micro-organisms at and in the vicinity of the filter element.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor (10) for oxidizing elemental mercury contained in flue gas is provided. The catalyst reactor (10) comprises within a flue gas conduit a perforated corona discharge plate (30a, b) having a plurality of through openings (33) and a plurality of projecting corona discharge electrodes (31); a perforated electrode plate (40a, b, c) having a plurality of through openings (43) axially aligned with the through openings (33) of the perforated corona discharge plate (30a, b) displaced from and opposing the tips of the corona discharge electrodes (31); and a catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) overlaying that face of the perforated electrode plate (40a, b, c) opposing the tips of the corona discharge electrodes (31). A uniformly distributed corona discharge plasma (1000) is intermittently generated between the plurality of corona discharge electrode tips (31) and the catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) when a stream of flue gas is passed through the conduit.

Abstract: A laminar flow electrostatic precipitator (200) is provided with a plurality of sandwich structure electrodes (100) alternatingly coupled to a respective one of a pair of output terminals (222, 224) of high voltage power supply (220). Each of the sandwich structure electrodes (100) includes a three layer electrode body (110, 110', 110") formed by a pair of plate members (112, 114) and a support structure (120, 120', 120") disposed between the pair of plate members for maintaining the plate members in a substantially flat contour. The spacing between the plurality of sandwich structure electrodes (100) and the velocity of gas flow there past is selected to achieve laminar flow and thereby maximize the particulate removal efficiency of the precipitator (200).

Abstract: A corona discharge reactor (10) and method for chemically activating various constituents of a gas stream by use of corona discharge is provided. The corona discharge reactor (10) includes within a conduit a discharge plate (30a,b) having a plurality of through openings (33) and a plurality of projecting corona discharge electrodes (31,31',35,35'), and an electrode plate (40a,b,c) having a plurality of through openings (43) displaced from and opposing the tips (32) of the corona discharge electrodes (31,31',35,35'). A pulsed energization scheme is employed to intermittently generate a uniformly distributed corona discharge cloud (1000) between the plurality of corona discharge electrode tips (32) and the electrode plate (40a,b,c) during passage of the gas stream through the conduit.

Abstract: A modular dust collection plate assembly (10) for use in an electrostatic precipitator is provided. The dust collection plate assembly (10) includes at least one panel member (100) and at least one waveform member (200) releasably coupled together. The panel member (100) is characterized by a substantially planar contour, having first and second faces on opposing sides thereof which are commonly bounded laterally by a pair of lateral edge portions (110, 110) extending in a longitudinal direction. The waveform member (200) also extends in the longitudinal direction and is characterized by a predetermined curvilinear cross-sectional contour that enables the waveform member (200) to disrupt at least a portion of the gaseous flow that would pass across it during operation in an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitation system (100) utilizes laminar flow of a particulate-laden gas in order to enhance the removal of sub-micron sized particulates. The system incorporates a vertically oriented housing (105) through which the gas flows downwardly therethrough to a lower outlet port (110). The gas, which may be a flue gas enters the laminar flow precipitator (102) through an inlet port (108) for passage through a charging section (104). The charging section (104) imparts a charge to the particulates carried by the flue gas. The flue gas and charged particles then flow to a collecting section (106) which is downstream and below the charging section (104). The collecting section (106) is formed by a plurality of substantially parallel tubular members, each tubular member defining a collecting passage therein.

Abstract: A system incorporating an agglomerator is provided for removing fine particulates from a gas stream. The agglomerator (100) is coupled to a flue (12) for agglomerating fines (30) entrained in a gas stream, the agglomerates (40) reentrained into the gas stream are carried by ductwork (14) to an existing particulate removal system (20). Agglomerator (100) includes at least two screen electrodes (102, 104) for charging the particulates (30) and temporarily collecting the charged particles on the collection electrode screen (104). The charging electrode (102) is provided with a plurality of spaced pointed electrode elements (108), the spacing therebetween being proportional to a spacing between the two screen electrodes (102, 104). The screen electrodes (102, 104) have a grid spacing sufficiently large to insure reentrainment of the agglomerates (40) back into the bulk gas stream for separation by the existing particulate removal system (20).

Abstract: An automatic back corona detection and protection system (200) is provided for controlling an electrostatic dust precipitator (80). The system (200) includes a subsystem for monitoring voltage and current parameters of the high voltage transformer/rectifier (70) of the electrostatic dust precipitator system (100). On a periodic basis, automatic back corona detection and protection system (200) tests dust precipitator (80) to determine what operating conditions are conducive to back corona generation, operating parameters being utilized by the energization control (210) during the test, and then operates dust precipitator (80) at voltage and current values below those for which back corona conditions were detected. In detecting back corona, system (200) utilizes two methods of detection (220, 230).

Abstract: A system is provided for maintaining the concentration of sulfur oxides in a flue duct (60) at a predetermined value. The sulfur oxides being maintained at a concentration to substantially optimize the particulate removal performance of an electrostatic precipitator (70). The sulfur rate control system (100) injects sulfur trioxide into the flue gas in proportion to a deficiency in the content of sulfur oxides in the flue gas, with respect to the proportion to particulates being carried by the flue gas. The sulfur trioxide is formed in a catalytic converter (54) which is supplied with sulfur dioxide and oxygen from a reaction chamber (40). The formation of sulfur dioxide is controlled by metering the source of sulfur responsive to a signal provided from a ratio controller (64).

Abstract: A fan blade protection system (100) is provided for substantially preventing erosion by particulate impingement on the fan blade. Fan blade protection system (100) includes an outer erosion resistant layer (110) laminately bonded to an elastomeric energy dissipative layer (120). The laminate structure of fan blade protection system (100) is bonded to a portion (12) of fan blade (10). The outer erosion resistant layer (110) is formed of a material having a high yield strength such that it elastically deforms on impact by high velocity particulates. The energy transferred to the outer erosion resistant layer (110) is absorbed and distributed by the elastomeric energy dissipative layer (120), minimizing the force transmitted to the surface of the fan blade.

Abstract: An electrostatic dust collection system (100) includes adaptive control system (10) for substantially maximizing performance of the electrostatic dust collection system (100). Adaptive control system (10) includes dual processor control unit (14) which has the capability to learn new system operating parameters in response to feedback signals from the high voltage transformer/rectifier (70). The self learning feature is implemented with a dual memory architecture coupled to main processor (300). A first non-volatile memory unit (320) holds predetermined system operating parameters for initial use by the adaptive control system (10). The second memory unit (310) is an electrically alterable non-volatile memory unit which is used to store new system operating parameters which have been computed to substantially improve system performance, as determined by measurements of the feedback signals from the high voltage transformer/rectifier (70).

Abstract: There is provided an improved method of cleansing a filter bed utilizing a backwash pump (12) having an inlet line (14) and an outlet line (16). The improved method and system includes two cycle operations. Initially, the filter bed is backwashed to remove contaminants from the filter bed with the backwash pump (12) drawing liquid from an effluent channel (32) through a first diverter valve (18). The fluid flows through a second diverter valve (20) and a first throttling control valve (36) for insert into a backwash shoe (38). In the purging cycle, fluid may be recirculated from the backwash pump (12) through the backwash shoe (38) and then back to the backwash pump (12) with a portion of the fluid being diverted through a second diverter valve (20') into an egress line (42).

Abstract: A hopper gas distribution system (10) is provided for dispersing particulate laden gas in an equal flow rate around or into a plurality of filter bags (16) maintained in a bag house above a hopper housing (12). Particulate laden gas enters the hopper housing (12) through an inlet conduit (18) and is directed in an upward vertical direction (24) by a plurality of turning vane members (30) mounted within the hopper housing (12) in a longitudinally displaced as well as vertically displaced manner, each with respect to the other. Below the turning vane members (30) and the inlet conduit (20) is mounted a plurality of blocking vane members (42) secured to opposing transverse sidewalls (32 and 34) of hopper housing (12). The blocking vane members (42) create a false bottom floor which further impedes particulate laden gas from passing down into a lower section of the hopper housing (12).

Abstract: An improved method of cleansing a filter bed is herein provided utilizing a backwash pump (12) having an inlet line (14) and an outlet line (16). The improved method and system includes two cycle operations. Initially, the filter bed is backwashed to remove contaminants from the filter bed with the backwash pump (12) drawing liquid from an effluent channel (26). A portion of the liquid passing on backwash pump outlet line (26) is passed through a bypass adjustment valve (34) for egress on an outlet line (38) for recirculation to the effluent channel (26). The second stage of the cleansing operation is through a purging cycle where the filter bed is purged subsequent to the backwashing operation for removal of further contaminants from the filter bed.

Abstract: A fluid valve system (10) is provided to control fluid flow passing from a conduit passage (12). The valve system (10) includes a movable closure (20) which is reversibly displaceable in a transverse direction (22) passing in a direction substantially normal to the fluid flow passing in a longitudinal direction (14). The movable closure (20) is insertable within the conduit passage (12) in order to block or cut off the fluid flow passing through aligned conduits (16 and 18). The valve system (10) includes a pair of resilient sealing mechanisms (34) which provide for substantially planar second sealing base members (46) for resiliently contacting opposing surfaces (48 and 50) of movable closure (20). Additionally, there is provided a biasing mechanism (56) for resiliently biasing the second sealing base members (46) into contiguous contact with surfaces (48 and 50) of movable closure (20) over an extended area.

Abstract: A stepped plenum system is provided for distributing particulate laden gas to a plurality of filter bags in a baghouse under substantially equal flow rate and pressure conditions. The stepped plenum system includes an inlet conduit and a plurality of outlet conduits. Gas is inserted into the inlet cross-sectional area of the inlet conduit and is directed to the outlet conduits through a stepped pattern design. The first outlet conduit and the second outlet conduit are in fluid communication with the inlet conduit. The second outlet conduit is longitudinally displaced from the first outlet conduit and provides for a second flow region which is of lower cross-sectional flow area than an initial flow region of the inlet conduit. Each of the outlet conduits include a plurality of inlet vane members which capture and redirect the flow of the gases into a direction which channels the gaseous flow into the respective outlet conduits.

Abstract: A filter bag tensioning system (10) for use in a bag house is provided. An adjustable tensioning mechanism (16) is pivotally coupled to a frame member (20) within the bag house for providing a predetermined tension on a filter bag (12). The adjustable tensioning mechanism (16) is releasably coupled on a second end (22) thereof to the bag (12) through an S-hook (26) and chain link (30) coupling. A weight member (38) is coupled to a first end (40) of the adjustable tensioning mechanism (16) for counterbalancing the weight of the bag (12). The adjustable tensioning mechanism (16) includes a mechanism for linearly displacing the weight (38) with respect to a pivot point (64) of the adjustable tensioning mechanism (16).

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur oxides from waste gas is provided. The gas is contacted with an activated sodium carbonate sorbent and, utilizing an alkaline ammonia liquor so as to reduce the flow rates and loss of alkalinity, the spent sorbent is regenerated with an alkaline earth metal oxide or hydroxide.

Abstract: An upflow, buoyant media filter for industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment is disclosed. The filter bed is supported in a tank such that there is defined an influent reservoir below the filter bed and an effluent reservoir above the filter bed. By inducing a continuous circulating flow of influent within the influent reservoir, the waste is slowly agitated allowing it to coagulate. As the waste particles are carried to the relatively quiescent areas near the perimeter of the tank, those that are heavy enough settle to the bottom of the tank. The lighter particles are carried along in the circulating flow to continue the coagulation process. Waste particles which do not settle out are ultimately removed by the filter media. As the waste particles build up on the surface of the filter media, they agglomerate. As their density increases, these particles tend to drop off of their own weight or may be scoured off by the circulating flow of influent.

Abstract: A flow measuring apparatus having increased sensitivity is disclosed for measuring the flow of gas, particularly through a confined passage. The flow measuring apparatus comprises a tube having a constant or tapered orifice section followed by an abrupt expansion of the orifice; a total pressure sensing probe is located preferably in the section of the tube with the constant or tapered orifice, the total sensing probe having an opening parallel to the flow of gas and facing upstream; and a static pressure sensing probe is located in the walls of the tube in the expanded orifice section immediately after the abrupt expansion, the static pressure probe having an opening either parallel to the flow of gas and facing downstream or perpendicular to the flow of gas. The sensing probes may be connected to a measuring device that provides a readout of the sensed pressures or pressure differential or to a control unit that is responsive to the sensed pressures or pressure differential.